posted February 10, 2007 06:50 PM            

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My sister is a deeply religious but extremely westernized chick (if that combo is possible with Islam lol), shes also one of the most nice and charitable people but shes got a deeply vengeful personality sometimes (too much Scorp in her chart, the Virgo balances it out though).

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Quite possible SGA, and a very good combo. Proves that a person doesnt need to put anyone else down and can be free in their expression and love God just the same. Props

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When we were kids, I was the 'uncontrollable one', and my sis and bro were the obedient ones.

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*gasp* no way! I was the quitest little thing ever. Wow.

posted February 10, 2007 06:55 PM              

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Thats a result of bad parenting not bad TV/viodeo games/music...If one sets boundries and says hey do your homework FIRST and then you can listen and do whatever you want and play all the better. In fact if there is a show they are looking forward to at a certain time you better believe they will do their homework quickly and properly.

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Please Lord don't let me get to the point where my only hope of getting the kid to do his homework is the promise of tv. A few days ago in the supermarket I listened to a mom bribing her child with candy in the hopes she would stop whinning. This is good parenting? No. This is surrender. This is proves exactly how important tv is to the average child.

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I am sorry but TV engages immagination just as much as anything else. All these violent shows and dramas like Law and Order and all that stuff teaches kids a whole lot about law, biology, and things in general. The directors try to make the dramas as realistic as possible, meanwhile the kids can familiarize themselves with law. How do you think most of teenagers know their rights when they are arrested? You think parents sit them down for a chat or teachers make them memorize Miranda...and if so you think they would BOTHER to remember? Nope all TV...what about that show NUMBERS? Its about police works, murder and dead bodies...and also about a large quantity of mathematical principles and "fun" ways to apply them in the real world to solve what seems like unsolveable crimes...when a kid has to sit through calculus wouldnt it be SO MUCH BETTER that he thinks "hey the guy on TV looked cool I think I want to be like him and learn some math". There is NOTHING wrong with TV...the issue is telling kids hey do you want to be like Lindsey or like the crime fighter?

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This is a joke, yes? When our teenagers are getting themselves arrested they should rely on knowledge gained from a tv show? Say again? TV engages the imagination? TV is passive. TV watching demands no interaction. TV watching supplies the viewer with images he or she would otherwise be required to create for themselves. This sounds like a distinct lack of imagination to me.

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Yes indeed...so wouldn't it help if the parents were better than the media at doing it? So yea they are interested in the new cool toy because TV said so, no one says you have to buy it. Discipline your kid, if he/she throws a tantrum in a toy store that is YOUR fault and buying them the damn thing wont make the problem go away. But nothing wrong with getting them something new and cool for their birthday.

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So I should allow the media to con my child into believing he absolutely, positively MUST have that new thingamabob and then "discipline" the poor thing by telling him he can't have it? That seems to be the long way around. Counterproductive anyone?

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Why not? Hilton is like any rich kid in any century. Everyone always observes the rich because it is entertaining. Court scandals were fascinating in Middle Age Europe...so what?

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Gossip is, was and always will be. No argument there. But there is an essential difference here - fascination with court scandals wasn't created to sell product. Fascination with court gossip wasn't created to manipulate the populace. In addition, the latest court gossip wasn't pumped into the average Middle Age household on a 24 hr basis. This is what I mean by barrage.

posted February 10, 2007 07:18 PM            

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Yea there are those people but we cant blame Cosmo for this because they would do what any other would say just as easily. We have to admit some people are just that easily influenced and we cant be expected to constantly accomodate them

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Very true, that's actually what I meant. That there are people out there that are so easily influenced. And that's why it makes me mad when people want to push for more censorship...its just annoying to me.

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Unfortunately a time comes when everyone moves away from (or toward) their parents morals, but with their own decisions only. Until we were teenagers me and my siblings had very similar moral attitudes; as we started spending more time out rather than in the house; everything changed drastically.

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Yup, also true. Its even known to basic psychology. There was a time when I followed everything my mother said....raised around the strict "Old World" Style....basically my culture's values. Now I'm known as "the rebel" in my family. However, my culture has still had a big role in shaping me today....my work/study ethic hasn't changed (I'm not lying,it really hasn't ).

posted February 10, 2007 07:26 PM            

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Anyone who would equate an episode of Law and Order with Homer is either unfamilar with both or one or is out of their mind.

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Pardon me but I didnt say they are the same, I said both are a creation of the pop culture of their time. No one is better than the other and both should be valued for what they are. Now i am QUITE familiar with both. Read the Illiad and the Odysey at least 8 times in 3 diff languages and I watch Law and Order SVU religiously.

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Additionally, those two ancient examples of divine inspiration didn't require a subsequent sit down with mom and dad to deprogram me.

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And neither does Law and Order.

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Homer somehow managed to convey his truth without doing harm to my young soul. The medium is what matters. I can't stress that enough. The medium is what matters.

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Well some people learn better by hearing something, some by reading it and some by action. So someone who is more impressionable with relation to reading might very well be harmed...this is my point, we dont give ourselves and our kids enough credit. And the censoring is insane. Of course there has to be a limit, but come on we cant blame TV for our shortcomings its rediculous. Plus this debate has been around since before TV was created. In Shakespeare's time actors were seen as a low class debauchery, tell that today to the teachers that teach him as a classic in every English class. Back in his day it was seen unspeakeable for a lady of high class to be educated. Such an art was for men and courtesans. Real ladies did not need to "pollute" their minds with books...keeping kids away from knowledge is seen as child abuse today. All I am saying is people have been trying to blame artists for all the wrong in society since history began. Our own religious texts have a nice detailed discription of all the horrible things that will be done to us if we dont behave, as if thats not traumatizing. Not to nock on religion and all but I don't see anyone censoring that. And yet Karl Marx thought we should "religion is the opiate of the masses". So in my opinion censoring is a relative thing.

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Please Lord don't let me get to the point where my only hope of getting the kid to do his homework is the promise of tv.

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Who cares what it is...whether positive or negative reinforcement, tv or cookies or just threats. What does it matter?

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A few days ago in the supermarket I listened to a mom bribing her child with candy in the hopes she would stop whinning. This is good parenting? No. This is surrender.

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Isn't that what I said just a few lines later? I didn't say bribing with TV. My mom for example would ban me from watching my favorite thing if I didnt do my work well, Im a straight A student in college, clearly that worked...

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This is a joke, yes?

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Clearly not...

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When our teenagers are getting themselves arrested they should rely on knowledge gained from a tv show? Say again? TV engages the imagination? TV is passive.

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And books aren't? So with the same mentality lets stop them from reading as well..

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TV watching demands no interaction.

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And when was the last time you interacted with a book?

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So I should allow the media to con my child into believing he absolutely, positively MUST have that new thingamabob and then "discipline" the poor thing by telling him he can't have it?

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Shall I say this again? If a child is so easily conned then it is the parents fault and we cannot proceed to blame TV for it.

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one of the greater dangers of the modern day media monster is the glorification of the bad guy, the glamorization of the anti-hero.

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I think thats WONDEFUL! You know why? Because it teaches people to think OUTSIDE the box...and also teaches our kids to judge by actions rather than labels.

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I also found evil to be far more enticing than good when I was young. Who wouldn't? It's engineered to appear that way. Unfortunately its not true. Works like a charm though, doesn't it?

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So you found evil more enticing as a child. You arent in jail or commiting crimes so clearly that wasnt so harmful

posted February 10, 2007 07:28 PM            

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Not every girl is gonna be blindly influenced by the Media or Paris/Lindsay/Britney.

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posted February 10, 2007 07:58 PM            

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Yup yup used to love them. I still love the Spice Girls song "When Two Become One". Its very sweet

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They're great if your into that stuff....even my forensics teacher thought so.

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posted February 10, 2007 11:10 PM              

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Pardon me but I didnt say they are the same,

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I didn't say that you did.

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And neither does Law and Order.

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On the contrary, I've heard nothing but. The defense, as I understand it, being that any undesirable media influence can be neutralized by a chat with the parents. Good luck with that.

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...we dont give ourselves and our kids enough credit.

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Possiby I've been misunderstood. In no way do I consider the majority of us to be stupid. What I do see is a distinct lack of logical, unbiased thought. In fact, I see a frightening inability to really think at all. I see a ton of Orwellian quacking and bushels full of self-defensive moral relativism. For the most part I blame this on too much media influence and a p!ss poor educational system.

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And the censoring is insane.

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I am 100% against censorship. Self-censorship and self-control are altogether a different story.

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In Shakespeare's time actors were seen as a low class debauchery, tell that today to the teachers that teach him as a classic in every English class.

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Acting was seen as a low class profession. The theatre was reasonably respectable. If it was good enough for Good Queen Bess it's good enough for me.

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All I am saying is people have been trying to blame artists for all the wrong in society since history began.

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I have no issue with art. I would contend that there isn't nearly enough of it.

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Our own religious texts have a nice detailed discription of all the horrible things that will be done to us if we dont behave, as if thats not traumatizing. Not to nock on religion and all but I don't see anyone censoring that. And yet Karl Marx thought we should "religion is the opiate of the masses". So in my opinion censoring is a relative thing.

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I'm afraid I'm not following your train of thought here.

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Who cares what it is...whether positive or negative reinforcement, tv or cookies or just threats. What does it matter?

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It matters quite a bit. Either I am in charge or the kid is. Or the tv. The very fact that the tv can be used as a means of cajolment shows its level of importance. Taking away my 14 year old stepson's X box is, to his perspective, akin to denying him food and water. Clearly, the machine has too great a hold on him.

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And when was the last time you interacted with a book?

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This afternoon. What is psychologicaly (and spiritually I might add) demanded of a book reader is vastly different than what is .. or isn't .. demanded of someone sitting in front of a television screen. Watch someone do both. It's really quite amazing if you look at it with an open mind.

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Shall I say this again? If a child is so easily conned then it is the parents fault and we cannot proceed to blame TV for it.

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hmm. This statement seems to imply that the TV has the ability to con but the parents can protect the child from its negative influence and/or teach the child self defense measures. Maybe your view of the media isn't so rosy after all. Can we agree that anything seeking to con a child can't be considered completely benign?
At any rate ...

Your own words ... So yea they are interested in the new cool toy because TV said so
Children are impressionable. It is their nature. A child learns by imitating. The intent of children's television is to sell product. 2 plus 2 equals 4. When was the last time you heard a child say, "Gee, mom, I've seen 10 commercials for that toy this past week. Apparently some conniving bast@rd on Wall St wishes to holy hell that we buy it. Well I'll show him. I'll have none of it. Let's go home and make mud pies instead."

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So you found evil more enticing as a child. You arent in jail or commiting crimes so clearly that wasnt so harmful

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Not at the moment.

posted February 11, 2007 12:36 AM              

for some excellent childhood wisdom, on the nature of raising children in the most humane and loving manner, please refer to the work of Alfie Kohn. brilliant, logical, well researched and documented thought on everything from education to the dangers of reward/punishment systems of reinforcement.

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UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING:

Moving from Rewards and Punishments
to Love and Reason

(Atria Books, 2005)

Begins with the question “What do children need – and how can we meet those needs?” rather than “How can we get kids to do whatever we tell them?” Helps parents to move from techniques that emphasize control (and conditional acceptance) to an approach designed to help kids grow into good people.

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http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.html

has written a very impressive collection of books.

posted February 11, 2007 12:39 AM            

Should we ban our kids from watching current events as well cuz most these shows are based on such.

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For the most part I blame this on too much media influence and a p!ss poor educational system.

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I will certainly agree with you on the latter. The educational system is GARBAGE at best. I was very lucky with the school I went to and even there the teachers had their dumb moments. Forget about the elementary school and junior high schools, teachers there are poor at best. MY math teacher from 6th grade was teaching math because they didnt need a pianist, which is what she really is...

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Self-censorship and self-control are altogether a different story.

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Most certainly, so why can't we help our kids make a better decision of what they should not see. Again I am not saying take away all limits, im just saying that perhaps we are too strict with those limits. I am just speaking about the people who sue Marilyn Manson for his music lyrics because of what kids do. I am sorry but its a load of crock. If your kid goes on a murder spree because a song told him to do so then he had deep psychological issues to begin with.

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I have no issue with art. I would contend that there isn't nearly enough of it.

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And is film not a form of art? I personally think it is. Its a form of a person expressing him or herself through imagery. Moving pictures thats what it is, books in pictures.

Oh sorry my train of thought there is that we say media brainwashes us and our kids. But philosophers like Karl Marx (who i also dont agree with) claimed religion was a way of governments to brainwash their people to be stuck in society. And religious texts are quite gruesome if you read them. So does that mean we should abolish religion? We all know that a lot of people believe in religion and some even follow it to a T.

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Either I am in charge or the kid is. Or the tv.

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Thats not what I meant. In psychology (behavioral) there is the idea of negative or positive reinforcements. Negative reinforcement is when you take something away to get a desired behavior and positive reinforcement is when you give something for a behavior i.e. cookie for good behavior or spanking for bad (both positive reinforcements because you are adding something). I was just saying you dont have to bribe your kids with TV it could be a means of negative reinforcements as well..

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The very fact that the tv can be used as a means of cajolment shows its level of importance.

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Exactly. And there is no reason why it shouldnt be important.

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Taking away my 14 year old stepson's X box is, to his perspective, akin to denying him food and water. Clearly, the machine has too great a hold on him.

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Oh come on, without TV or X-box it would be something else. Going out with friends, reading a book etc. There always will be things that have hold on them.

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This afternoon. What is psychologicaly (and spiritually I might add) demanded of a book reader is vastly different than what is .. or isn't .. demanded of someone sitting in front of a television screen. Watch someone do both. It's really quite amazing if you look at it with an open mind.

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How so? I am not saying its not different but to me the idea is quite the same. I am not a big fan of books, simply because it is VERY hard to find one i like. I prefer biographies of people who have suffered through some kind of trauma i.e. survivors of genocides, slaves etc. And those are hard to come by. But either way would you let your child read books like that? And if so how is it different than them watching SVU?

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This statement seems to imply that the TV has the ability to con but the parents can protect the child from its negative influence and/or teach the child self defense measures. Maybe your view of the media isn't so rosy after all.

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Oh far from it. My view of the media isnt rosy one bit. I most definately agree it is used as a means of control and shaping people's opinions. But to me the only reason it can do so is because the parents arent there to do it in the first place. I just feel that parents who aren't in their children's lives blame the media for when their kids go on a shooting spree.

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Can we agree that anything seeking to con a child can't be considered completely benign?
At any rate ...

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Of course. But I also disagree that shows like Law and Order are really seeking to con children.

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Children are impressionable. It is their nature. A child learns by imitating.

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Yes but I still don't think turning the TV off is the solution. Telling them hey its not cool to get drunk and get into a cat fight is a lot more effective than turning off the TV when someone is doing that.

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Apparently some conniving bast@rd on Wall St wishes to holy hell that we buy it. Well I'll show him. I'll have none of it. Let's go home and make mud pies instead."

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I am all for making mudd pies. In fact I think parents should spend as much time with their kids as possible, doing a million different things. Opening new possibilities. When I was little my mom took me to kid's arts classes, to an astronomy course (LOL and here i am from that one), to dance lessons (which i bitterly hated) to swimming lessons (which didnt help one bit till camp when i actually learned) etc. She read stories from all over the world to me, and showed me slides. Which i love her for. And i think that parents should do more of that (btw she was also working full time and is a single parent). But I also feel that her yelling at me to go out and play with my friends instead of watching Xena and Hercules was unecessary because I am a big fan of Greek mythology (thanks to her) and that held my interest a lot more than playing house. Plus there is always time for that.

posted February 11, 2007 10:29 AM            

******

I don't think anyone is saying that adults need to have things censored for them. You want to watch x,y or z instead of doing something else? Won't hear a peep out of me.
But children? I mean, we are talking about children right? Possibly through high school but at least through middle school age. I see no logical and beneficial-to-the-child reason for a 2 year old to be sitting in front of cartoons all or even part of a day. The problem for me isn't so much the television itself. I'm not personally a fan of TV and find it to be as real a waste of time as anything is possible to be in general, but that's just me. Don't misunderstand me. I can value some films and occasional sitcoms ... as an adult, with an adult's capacity for logic, reason, the ability to differentiate between reality and illusion, etc ... yet I don't worhsip the Boob Tube on a daily basis. If our set is turned on once a week it's surprising and then it's most often a movie. And, naturally, only after our son has to gone to bed.
Yes, my 19 month old. What need is there for him to watch tv? What need is there for tv in his development? Humanity made it pretty far without television. I don't believe it is important to life at all. If it is important to many people it is only because they've made it important to themselves or because their parents let it be important for them so much that it's not even a questioned "past time".
Geez, do you know how often you're with a group of people and all anyone can talk about is what tv show they watched? It's nothing personal against anyone, it's just boring. And I assure you, I used to watch tv myself when I was younger. It was still boring.
Reading a book? That one cannot see the enormous difference between reading a book and watching a television show is unbelievable. Reading a book engages your imagination. You have to visualize the imagery in the story. You have to hear the dialogue in your own head, ie create the voices for the characters on your own. And it can be as grand and beautiful as you imagine it to be. But a tv show or a movie is set ... there is nothing for you to imagine, it's just presented to you.
And its impact is huge. There are studies that show how your brain reacts to visual stimulus. In essence, your brain, your body (not your mind necessarily, understand, but your physiology) reacts on a minor level to what it sees in the same manner it would as if those things were actually happening to you. The implications are enormous.
Again, my concern is how this will affect children. Adults have different capacities. I just don't buy the idea that children are just small adults, all set for life and unimpressionable. I believe children grow, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually, as well. And I have yet to encounter one single, soitary positive thing that tv can provide better for them than imaginative play, spending time outdoors, and imitating a positive life full of real activities and accomplishments, however small.

Just out of curiosity ...
How many people would watch a tv show about people who come home from work and sit in front of a tv for 3, 4, 5 or more hours a day? A show where people did nothing but play computer or video games with their spare time?

Again, I'm not necessarily for government censorship. I'm for personal censorship.
The world around you is what you create it to be. You can choose to have a life that revolves around tv shows and commercials, popular music and radio commercials, popular magazines and magazine advertisements all you want. But you can also choose to turn off the tv, turn off the radio and not read whatever the supermarket is displaying ever so conveniently by the check out.
And no, I don't believe children will be in any way damaged or harmed or, heaven forbid, "deprived" by not being constantly bombarded with media from a young age.
You also have the freedom to choose how to raise your children, who to have as family friends, where to send your kids for school, etc. as you see fit. Again, it's your responsibility as a parent to do those things. It's all about parenting, in the end.

I know a lot of people get defensive when you suggest that letting kids watch tv all the darn time so that it's a "normal" part of life is bad parenting. It's not meant to hurt people's feelings. It's just my opinion. Just about everyone has an opinion, right? Good parenting, imo, involves you actually being the main influence/role model in your child's life ... on purpose ... through supervision, constant effort and doing your best to live up to your idea of exemplary behavior worthy of their imitation ... because that's how you actually are and that's what you want to do. And it seems to me that so many people just get by on the idea that, well, if enough people are doing it then it's good enough. I'm not overly concerned about adult pride ... I'm just concerned about the children.

I guess it's just a matter of different philosophies or outlooks on life. I believe children are most impressionable between birth and 7 years old. I believe that children need to be surrounded by nature and natural objects as much as possible. I believe that a child's imagination is more important than fitting in or memorizing information. I believe an imagination needs to be nurtured from birth with toys and materials that are not "ready made" but with things that allow the greatest amount of freedom for that child. Imagine trying to paint your ideas on someone else's finished painting. Everything of theirs is already there. What room is left for you to develop your ideas? Now, if someone gave you a blank page, or even a page with just a few strokes here and there to guide you along ... there is no limit to what you could create. And that's a child's mind/soul to me.

I see children all the time that can only mimic things they saw on tv. They only draw things they saw on tv. They only talk about things they saw on tv. They want to buy things they saw on tv. Is that all we want for our kids? What's on tv?
I just don't think it needs to be that way for your kids if you don't want it to.

That's my point about parents who say one thing and do another. I believe a big part of parenting is setting appropriate boundaries for your child. Children learn by imitation. If your child only sees you watching tv then that's what s/he'll learn to do. If your child constantly watches this or that character behave in a certain way, and again, as a parent you allowed that character to be imitable by presenting it to your child, then you can't honestly expect your child not to do as s/he sees.
Eventually, usually high school or even middle school, children start to break out and do their own thing. But the idea that what influenced them as little children will have little to no influence on them later in life is something I just don't buy. I did buy it, for a time. Then I kept growing ... and I saw the behavior patterns that I witnessed as a child in myself and in those around me.
You hear yourself say or do things your parents said or did, true. But if you stay alert, you realize that you still remember this or that showtune or episode. You realize how many of your memories came from or involved a tv. Geez, add up all the hours you've ever spent in front of a tv, or a video game, etc. What did you accomplish in that time? How many things are on your to-do-one-day list that you could've done already in that time?
I just don't want my kids to make tv a priority in their lives. It's really not at all vital.
If gods were created by mankind, tv would be a modern breed and the daily sacrifice at her altar would be your time and our kids imaginations. (Thanks Mr. Gaiman. )
Just my little onion, not meant to offend anyone here.
It's all just starting to seem a bit too Farenheit 451 for my taste at times.

*edited to add*
When it comes to societal values and business directed at kids, doesn't it all come down to supply and demand anyway? That's what I mean by it being mostly a parent's responsibility. If adults didn't make it such an important thing, spend so much money on what came through it, glamorize the people on/in it, etc. and consequently show/teach their kids to do the same then the media and, really, all our lives would be different. Heck, if enough people wanted to buy poop on a stick surely there'd eventually be an endless supply of it available.

Whatever. Some of us are out of the proverbial loop on purpose. There really is a whole other world outside of our living rooms. I'd rather learn to dance or sing or paint or anything than watch someone else do it anyway.

posted February 11, 2007 03:14 PM            

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I see no logical and beneficial-to-the-child reason for a 2 year old to be sitting in front of cartoons all or even part of a day

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No no the issue I am arguing isn't how long they should sit in front of the TV. I think its bad for the eyes and health to sit any number of hours, but the issue I am arguing is WHAT is deemed bad to watch.

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Yes, my 19 month old. What need is there for him to watch tv? What need is there for tv in his development?

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None whatsoever. I was more discussing the fact that women blame TV and Lindsey Lohan for the fact that their 9 year old wants to be a sl*t. I think thats far fetched and you cannot blame TV for the kids misbehaving.

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I know a lot of people get defensive when you suggest that letting kids watch tv all the darn time so that it's a "normal" part of life is bad parenting.

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Again my argument has nothing to do with HOW MUCH they watch and everything to do with WHAT they watch. The discussion started on the fact that Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton create young women who want to be sl*ts and dress as such. And my argument is Lindsey doesnt create those girls, but parental neglect does therefore you cannot blame WHAT is shown on TV for the evils in society.

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Good parenting, imo, involves you actually being the main influence/role model in your child's life ... on purpose ... through supervision, constant effort and doing your best to live up to your idea of exemplary behavior worthy of their imitation ...

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WHich is precisly what i said a couple of times

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I'd rather learn to dance or sing or paint or anything than watch someone else do it anyway.

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And I agree with you there. That isn't the issue. My issue is parents who claim showing violence and gore on TV will make their kids violent which is something i find rediculous at best. Yes seeing so much gore on TV desensitizes us to it but I have to wonder whether that is really such a bad thing. If seeing so much blood makes it common then perhaps the kid who's friend gets hurt will be more likely to not panic and help out rather than see blood and pass out. Doesn't necessarily mean they will become violent or something.

posted February 11, 2007 03:59 PM            

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You could learn everything in Law and Order from a book and you would use more of your brain while doing it (increasing your chances of remembering it--contrary to what people think, the more of your brain you use when understandin a concept, the more likely you are to remember it, so no TV isnt the best and easiest way to remember something).

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I disagree from personal experience. I would rather shoot myself than read a law book. I would never remember half the concepts on Law and Order if I read them in a book because I would find them boring and i never remember something if it doesn;t interest me. On the contrary since i like Law and Order i find it easier to remember stuff.

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You cant see a movie that will tell you what Plato or Socrates' written spirit was (which you can only tell from books).

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And yet the book isn't the best way either because such things as Plato and Socrates are honestly best done in person. Sadly thats impossible but the fact remains the book is also not the best medium of communication in that case. Its very case specific.

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Movies like Troy are a laughable attempt at explaining myth or history for instance.

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Hell yea...

posted February 11, 2007 04:07 PM              

BUD, i'm a novel's person, but i'm also into historical biographies and articles, along with literature and medical textbooks. (not to mention i forgot i had this book on therapy called 'conceptual foundations of occupational therapy'.

but i don't consider myself any smarter than someone who's trying to apply themselves . If you try it makes all the difference.

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted February 11, 2007 04:25 PM            

The area I would lean more toward the book side would be the novels or historical events made into movies. I think so because alot of the time, the famous novel or the event becomes seriously diluted in order to cater to the mainstream (BTW, I never watched Troy ). In these cases, the novels are much better than the movies (although I couldn't help but love the movie version of "The Count of Monte Cristo"...no matter how much it screwed over the original novel..hehe).

posted February 11, 2007 04:29 PM            

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And personally I would also rather watch Law and Order than read a law book...oyyyy.

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posted February 11, 2007 04:43 PM              

When i'm bored, i'll watch a little bit of the Bad Girls Club, its stupid, but it just shows the problems with female interaction. Its on the oxygen channel.

oh BUD,

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What do you mean try Neptune? Im a little confused sowwie.

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I used the word 'try', in the context of someone putting for the effort to do something, physically showing that they wanted a result in something, like being smart, like simply, showing that they want to be smart by choosing a book, picking it up and reading it.

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted February 12, 2007 08:30 AM            

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My issue is parents who claim showing violence and gore on TV will make their kids violent which is something i find rediculous at best.

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I don't think anyone here's said that. I mean, watching a medical show isn't going to make you a good doctor and neither is watching a law show going to make you a good lawyer/cop. Likewise, watching a violent movie isn't going to make you go out and start shooting people. But if it's something that interests you and that you see often enough, it can be an influence. And again, this is mostly concerning children. The article was talking about young children, generally between grade school and middle school age. There is just no need for children to watch things with adult content and parents need to make sure they don't. That's all. If they can do away with the tv period, all the better. But if that's asking too much involvement and commitment from parents then at least don't let your 7 year old watch House of 1,000 Corpses ... or allow them to idolize and emulate tabloid queens 3 times their age (at least) whose behavior is downright disgusting.
There are many positive female role models in the world. I just don't think you'll find them on the cover of popular magazines, on the radio or on tv. You may find a decent documentary/biography airing about a person you'd like your kids to learn from but, really, your grade schooler is better off having you set them a good example yourself and encouraging them to think and feel the world out for themselves ... instead of liking this or wearing that or listening to this or believing that or wanting this or doing that just because they see that some media personality and/or all their friends are "into" it.

As for reading classic books versus books/mags/articles you'd like ... again, how many children, even in highschool, would opt to read The Grapes of Wrath over Teen People or whatever the heck they're currently reading if they're reading at all? I read many books as a child and especially in high school. Some of them I simply loathed. But if no one had encouraged me to read them all I'd have missed so many other that I just loved. I surely wouldn't have picked up Return of the Native or Pride and Prejudice at 15 on my own, at least.
Perhaps I'm just a biased bookaholic but no way does a tv show or a movie compare to a book. And if I'd like to watch some theater, a ballet, an orchestra or a concert, I'd much rather see it in person.

posted February 12, 2007 11:46 AM            

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But if that's asking too much involvement and commitment from parents then at least don't let your 7 year old watch House of 1,000 Corpses ... or allow them to idolize and emulate tabloid queens 3 times their age (at least) whose behavior is downright disgusting.

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I think the first one is obvious. As for the second one if they like their music/movies thats okay as long as hey are taught that just cuz they like one thing doesnt mean they have to like all they do.

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And if I'd like to watch some theater, a ballet, an orchestra or a concert, I'd much rather see it in person.

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